![]() Species that primarily infest cats and dogs may bite humans if they have been starved since their last blood meal. visiting an unoccupied building that has previously housed infested pets – fleas can be found in the floorboards and carpets.Flea faeces (‘flea dirt’) appear as black pepper grains, and, when seen on a damp towel, are red, as a result of blood in the faeces. They are more obvious if they are jumping onto a person wearing white socks. They soon die if removed from the host, and rarely colonise another animal.įleas can be hard to see. The flea starts feeding immediately and is estimated to consume 13.6µL of blood per day. Survival depends on adequate temperature and high humidity.Īdult fleas move toward a light source, then jump when the light is shadowed e.g. The life cycle of the flea can range from 2 weeks to up to 2 years in duration, and is usually within 8 weeks. With the right stimuli, such as warm temperatures, high humidity or vibrations from movement, the pupa emerges from its cocoon as an adult flea. Cocoons are found in soil, carpets, under furniture and on animal bedding. After sufficient growth and development, the larva spins itself a cocoon and pupates. The emerging larva feeds on organic material in a moist environment including the faeces of adult fleas. The female fleas lay white, round eggs that tend to fall off the animal onto bedding, floor and soil. Adult fleas of domestic animals tend to live on the animal for easy access to blood meals. The saliva helps to prevent the host's blood from clotting, which facilitates their feeding.Ī flea has three pairs of legs, with long hind legs ideal for jumping. It simultaneously secretes saliva, which can be very antigenic ( allergy-inducing). During feeding, the flea has a specialized mouthpiece that punctures intact skin and syphons blood. The adult flea survives exclusively through blood meals from its host. The life cycle of the flea consists of four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Fleas that primarily feed on humans include the human flea, Pulex irritans, and dog and cat fleas, Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis.įlea infestations can be difficult to eradicate. They are parasites that survive from sucking the blood from their hosts. Fleas are insects from the order Siphonaptera.
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